Another Assualt on the Faith--

Archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided claims in a new documentary produced by the Oscar-winning director James Cameron that contradict major Christian tenets. "The Lost Tomb of Christ," which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries — small caskets used to store bones — discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued by the Discovery Channel.

One of the caskets even bears the title, "Judah, son of Jesus," hinting that Jesus may have had a son. And the very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

In 1996, when the BBC aired a short documentary on the same subject, archaeologists challenged the claims. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, said the idea fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television.

"They just want to get money for it," Kloner said.

He also says the theory is 'nonsense'.

Kloner said the names found on the coffins had been found in tombs before, adding: 'It makes a great story for a TV film, but it's impossible. Jesus and his relatives were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem. The Talpiot tomb belonged to a middle-class family from the first century.'

1 Co 15:3-8
...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. NIV

Amazing that over 500 eye witnesses saw Jesus Christ after the resurrection at one time (I Corinthians 15:6) as well as many other accounts of people seeing Him.

By the way, the box that Mr. Cameron found with the name Jesus on it was EMPTY!

Jesus is still ALIVE regardless of Hollywood's and the media's continual assualt on Christianity!!

How's the Weather - Man?

Unbelievable!!! Hilarious!!!!!

Thanks to Bobby Lepinay...

We All Have Two Choices!

Jerry was the kind of guy who was unpleasantly positive. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say.

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed Him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood." I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it’s not that easy," I protested. "Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

"Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, ’He’s a dead man. "I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. ’Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ’Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ’I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

note: from the Internet by Francie Baltazar-Schwartz, attempted to verify it, regardless...

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Blessing our Soldiers!

At a time when the Democrats and media are stating their obvious disdain for the war in Iraq and are demoralizing our troops, we decided to show our support of these men and women who are putting their lives in harms way for us.

DFW airport is one of 2 gateways to enter the USA for returning troops back for R&R. Every day there are troops coming thru our airport. So a group of us went there one Saturday morning at 8am and welcomed them home.

It brought tears to my eyes to see these brave young men and women- the emphasis on young! They are so very young and they are there for us. How could anyone look them in the eyes, trash them, spit on them, and not appreciate them?

The place was alive with patriotism, love, appreciation, and thankfulness. Each soldier was made over from handshakes, hugs, pats on the back, expressions of being proud of them, and they were given numerous goodies. We had bags made up with all kinds of neat things for them.

It is a mystery to me that politics has no face accept the faces of the likes of Hillary, Kennedy, Pelosi and others. I would rather look into the face of these young soldiers any day than have to look at these self centered politicians who only have their agendas and are using these brave men and women as pawns to achieve their goals.

God Bless the USA!

Another Reason I Attend Church!

Mummified man found in front of TV, still on

Southampton police responding to burst water pipes in a Hampton Bays home found the mummified body of the owner — dead for more than a year — sitting in a chair in front of a television.The television was still on.

Vincenzo Riccardi, 70, appeared to have died of natural causes in his home, said Dr. Stuart Dawson, Suffolk County deputy chief medical examiner. The medical examiner's office considered Riccardi's body mummified because the lack of humidity in his home preserved his features, morgue assistant Jeff Bacchus said. "You could see his face. He still had hair on his head," Bacchus said. "I've never seen anyone dead that long."

Police and county sources said Riccardi, whose body was found Thursday, had not been heard from since December 2005. The medical examiners said they were baffled as to why the electricity would be on in the home all that time. "He was in his house, sitting in his chair, as if watching television, and the television was, in fact, still on," Dawson said.

Riccardi lived alone; his wife had died years ago, Dawson said. Mail had piled up, but then delivery stopped. Neighbors said Riccardi had diabetes and had become blind in his 50s. His house was up a long driveway and could not be seen from the street.

I attend church so that someone will notice when I am missing and come looking for me!!!

Champions for a Cause

One of the neat things about blogging is you have the opportunity to meet some wonderful people. One such couple is Kris and Rebecca DeMauro. She came across my blog quite by accident or... maybe by God's design?

Rebecca lost a 12 year old daughter, Andi, to kidnapping, rape, and murder. Since then Rebecca has been championing rights for children and their protection. Click here to read about it.

I applaud their tireless efforts in a crooked and perverse generation that has no regard for the rights of children both unborn and born.

Coffee Scare!!!

Decaffeinated????????????????

Explain to me why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dangers of Online Viewing!

Love this Pluggers' cartoon! It speaks volumes.

Protect our children!

Meekness is Not Weakness!

Been doing a series on the Beatitudes. Especially enjoyed Sunday's sermon on Meekness. Meekness is not weakness!

I get asked how a former Drill Sergeant can be a Pastor. It has to be God and a good dose of power under control!

This picture is of my Associate Pastor, Stan, veteran of the Gulf War and of no small stature with me in a full nelson head lock. Did I trust him, you bet, had to! This was an example of power under control because he could have easily broken my neck with a little effort. Through meekness his power was under control! Thank God!

Another area of meekness is when our tongues are under control!

James 1:26 Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn't worth much.(TLB)

Whether it is gossip, slander, backbiting, cursing, etc., like Arabella Young's tombstone, don't wait until your dead to control your tongue.

Meekness means having the right amount of anger at the right time. It means being angry at what angers God and not just letting our fleshly anger control and get the best of us.

Pure meekness gets angry when injustices are done to others, when God is dishonored, or sin is accepted or condoned.

The result of meekness is receiving what God has promised!

"Happy Valentine's Day" - God

God taught us how to give the best!

Debi and I celebrated Valentine's Day a little early. I surprised her with a trip to Granbury to stay a night in her favorite Bed and Breakfast, The Arbor House. We left after Sunday service and didn't return until Monday evening. We had a delightful time! It is amazing what getting out of town can do for one's soul.

Have a great day! Show your love to someone--

"Christofascists"??? Note- Updated 2/14/07

"Not only that — count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable." Mt 5:11 (from the Message Bible)

I have been called a lot of names in my life: in high school, college, as a Drill Sergeant in the Army and as a Pastor. So it doesn't bother me. But I am amazed at those who call for tolerance, and an end to bigotry and name calling when they coin a new word and think that it is okay for them. It is always a double standard with them.

The current word for conservative Christians is "Christofascists." You can find it on their mean spirited blogs, on the internet, and now in public print. It can also be found among a Presidential candidate's staff.

"Mr. Edwards announced today, after 36 hours of deliberation, that he would keep on his campaign staff two liberal feminist bloggers with long cybertrails of incendiary comments on sex, religion and politics. Deliberations over the fate of the two bloggers, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, created a crisis in the nascent Edwards campaign and illuminated the treacherous road ahead as candidates of both parties try to harness the growing power of the online world to their campaigns...In deciding to retain Ms. Marcotte and Ms. McEwan, he extracted public apologies from them for some of their work and a promise from them to maintain a civil tone while in his employ."

"In some of their online writings, Ms. Marcotte and Ms. McEwan used vulgar language to characterize religious conservatives and Roman Catholic teachings on birth control, homosexuality and the virgin birth of Jesus."

"Ms. McEwan referred to conservative Christians as “Christofascists” and Mr. Marcotte said that the Catholic Church’s prohibition on the use of birth control forced women to bear “more tithing Catholics.”

We must be getting to them. For them to coin this word identifies their contempt not only for Christians but also for Christ! These are perilous times and it is not just the attack of Islam we have to deal with but the attack from our own fellow countrymen!

What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

Both quit--
Melissa McEwan wrote on her personal blog, Shakespeare's Sister, that she left the campaign because she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the level of attention focused on her and her family.

"This was a decision I made, with the campaign's reluctant support, because my remaining the focus of sustained ideological attacks was inevitably making me a liability to the campaign," McEwan said Tuesday night.

Kate Bedingfield, a spokeswoman for the Edwards campaign, said McEwan left the campaign under her own terms. Both Bedingfield and McEwan declined additional comment.

McEwan's resignation came just one day after another blogger, Amanda Marcotte, left the Edwards staff for similar reasons.

Close Encounters?

And you were sittng where?

Congrats to Tony Dungy and the Colts--

I'll tell you what. I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. That means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything -- I said it before -- Lovie Smith and I are not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win and doing it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that. Tony Dungy as he was handed the Vince Lombardi Trophy Sunday night.

It was a wet soggy game. A lot of miscues. That football just wouldn't stay tucked where it was supposed to.

But, there was a victor! Peyton Manning, yes; Rhodes, yes; Addai, yes; but my eyes were fixed on Tony Dungy! Class Act! A Christian Coach! A victor at life's struggles! He had weathered yet another storm!

The storms:
1. Dungy lost his first head coaching job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a series of disappointing postseason runs, only to see the man who followed him (Jon Gruden) lead the Bucs to a title the next year.
2. In December 2005, Dungy went through a parent's worst nightmare when he buried his eldest son James after a suicide. Read what I wrote about that here.
3. This 2006 season was tough. Indianapolis was the worst in the league against the run, allowing yards faster than I could say 'Jesus wept."
4. And others I don't know about.

Yet, Tony Dungy kept the same stoic, unwavering strength that has defined him in both good times and the worst that fate had to offer.

"He has always been a high-character guy," linebacker Rob Morris said. "He believes very strongly in what's important to him and, to him, life and life's lessons are bigger than football."

It is more than winning a championship for Dungy. More than becoming the first African-American coach to capture a Super Bowl. It is about a way of life.

"That's one of the reasons I stayed in coaching – to prove you can win with Christian principles," Dungy said.

This is a coach who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't curse and doesn't raise his voice. He treats players, coaches and all those who come in contact with him with respect.

After the super Bowl victory, Tony Dungy gave the credit to a fine organization and The Lord!

"The Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line," Dungy said. "He doesn't always take a direct path. I think he tests you sometimes to see if you're going to keep the faith and hang in there and I think we did. We did as an organization and it's just such a great feeling to get, to win this game.

"It's not the biggest thing in the world, but … it feels great."

Isa 43:2
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end — from THE MESSAGE

Life is more than football! It is what you make it even in the tough times and how you make it out of them!

Why I attend Church---

There's a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, one of the truly great entertainers. He was asked to do a show for World War II veterans. He told them he was very busy, but if they wouldn't mind his doing one short monologue and immediately leaving for his next appointment, he'd come. They agreed. But when Jimmy got on stage he went through the short monologue - then stayed, and stayed. Soon he'd been on stage 15, 20, then 30 minutes. Finally he took a last bow and left. Backstage someone stopped him and said "I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?" Jimmy answered, "You can see for yourself if you look on the front row." In the front row were two veterans, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that's exactly what they were doing, loudly and cheerfully.

That's a picture of what's supposed to happen in church!

1Co 12:25-27
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ's body — that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. THE MESSAGE

We need each other! We can't afford to stay away from church as some do. We can't go it alone and succeed at what God meant to be a shared life with others.

I am concerned for those that started well but don't finish well; or finish at all!

We need each other so that we can accomplish together what God intended for His church. We also need each other to help us become the people God intended us to be.

God help us to understand our importance to one another!

Heard of 'Footprints in the Sand-'

Now there are 'Footprints on the Tummy'

I believe in Life!!! It begins at conception!!!

http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/footprint.asp

Once there were Republicans--

But no more!

Dick Morris is no fan of Sen. Hillary Clinton, having spent much of the past decade writing and speaking out against her. And he took his always-quotable opinions to the offices of Americans for Tax Reform Wednesday (01/31/07) at a breakfast sponsored by The American Spectator.

He laid out the political future: “Hillary will be the next president, and she’ll be the worst president we’ve ever seen.” No matter what happens, the situation in Iraq will “assure that the GOP gets massacred in 2008 congressional elections.”

In 2010, the Republicans will take back the Congress — “Hillary will give Republicans the same gift she gave them in 1994” — and they’ll win the presidency in 2012, but thanks to demographic shifts favoring Democrats(namely the rising Hispanic and African-American populations), “that will be the last Republican president we’ll ever see.”

No Privacy!

Get that camera out of my face!

Oooops! Great to be a Dad?

A man was packing for a business trip and his three-year-old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, "Daddy, look at this" and stuck out two of her fingers.

Trying to keep her entertained, he reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in his mouth and said, "Daddy's gonna eat your fingers," pretending to eat them.

He went back to packing, looked up again and his daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.

He said, "What's wrong, honey?"

She replied, "What happened to my booger?"

In training For SuperBowl Sunday! Updated 2/1/07

CUPCAKES, CHEETOS, AND COOKIES, OH MY! By Marsha Jordan

Are you the type of person who eats when you're stressed? I am. I eat when I'm stressed, when I'm sad, when I'm happy, and when I'm tired. I believe there's a food for every mood.
I eat for any reason at any time. I eat when I'm watching television, I eat while riding in the car, and I even eat while sitting at the computer. There are enough crumbs in my keyboard to feed a troupe of boy scouts. Every once in a while, I just shake it over the table and announce to the husband, "Dinner's ready!"

I eat too much, too often. Since I was a kid, I've had a weight problem. I could never weight for the next meal. I began wearing a girdle to school in kindergarten, and I've been on diets for most of my life.

I recently began yet another new eating regimen. Forbidden food groups include appetizers and desserts, anything processed or fried, and anything with meat or dairy products in it. I must also avoid all foods seen on TV commercials or restaurant menus. I cannot eat anything prepared by my grandma, Aunt Hildegard, my third cousin twice removed, or any other member of the family. It's called the Oriental Diet. I can eat all I want from the specified food list (celery, kale, bok choi, and those tiny ears of corn), but I must use only one chopstick.

This week, I've failed miserably at sticking to my eating plan. I've had an insatiable appetite for junk food. In addition to a dumpster load of Hostess Twinkies, I've devoured roughly eleven cases of raspberry Fig Newtons and eight and a half pounds of extra crunchy Cheetos. I can't be sneaky about it either. When the husband asks if I've eaten all the Cheetos, how can I look innocent when my fingers and teeth are orange?

Wouldn't you think that after stuffing myself with junk food all week I'd be satisfied? I'm not. In fact, the more I eat, the more I crave. If I continue this way, I'll need a front end loader to lift my carcass out of the Lazy Boy.

To make matters worse, I don't get enough exercise. But I really can't do much that's physical, because I think I pulled a fat cell. I'm barely able to crawl to the kitchen for six square meals a day.

I really need to lose weight. I want to know how it feels to bend over and tie my shoes without cutting off the blood supply above my waist and feeling as if my intestines are being pushed out my ears. It would be great to zip my jeans without fainting from lack of oxygen. So I must get back on track. I'll paste on my refrigerator door that old proverb uttered by some wise sage: "If it tastes good, spit it out."

From now on, I'll plan my meals around a main dish of parsley. Only nutritional foods will pass my lips, like rutabagas, spinach, and celery -- stuff that takes half an hour to chew. By the time I swallow them, my aching jaws will be too tired to munch extra-crunchy Cheetos or anything else. Now if I could only figure out a way to make veggies taste like turtle cheesecake.

To keep my weight down and my arteries clean, I must eat health-restoring foods. Similarly, keeping my spiritual arteries open and flowing freely requires health food for my soul. Whoever coined the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out" knew what he was talking about. When I dump into my spirit things that I'm better off without, they transform my perceptions, attitude, and actions. The result can be just as shocking as that horror-filled moment when I view my cellulite-riddled body in Wal-mart's dressing room mirror.

So, I've made two resolutions. One is to strengthen my body and fuel it with life-sustaining foods. Also, I'll incorporate into my lifestyle more exercise than just aerobic eating and lifting extra large Hershey bars. I'll start slowly with the goal of working up to three sit ups a day. And instead of walking, I'll jog from my bed to the table.

I also plan to exercise my faith and feast spiritually on the word of God. This will be easier and much more palatable than a physical diet; and it will keep my sin-sick, love-starved soul in tip-top health. Bible study is the meat that gives me strength for handling stress and a clear mind to make good decisions. And, unlike Chinese food, it doesn't leave me feeling empty in an hour.

Jeremiah 15:16 says, "When your words came, I ate them; and they were my joy and my heart's delight." Jesus promised that whoever hungers and thirsts for righteousness will be satisfied, and Psalm 63:5 testifies, "My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

I feel better already.

---------------------------------
Marsha Jordan is the author of "Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter":http://snipurl.com/mJordan (Amazon info)

Visit her official website: http://www.hugsandhope.org/

Copyright 2007 Marsha Jordan. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

I'm mad- must read- it'll make you mad!

This could only happen in the age of consumerism and greed! This is a true story and I have it from a man who was involved in an aspect of the happenings. He and his organization will remain anonymous because they are still trying to get a resolution on the building involved.

My friend's organization gave a loan for a church in Ohio to build a 3 million dollar facility. All seemed to be going fine and the church was active in the community and with other churches. The churches were building unity among themselves even having joint meetings together.

What happens next is bizarre. The pastor(1) of the church with the new building decided to sell his congregation to another church. That pastor(1) and the other pastor(2) had worked out a plan to sell pastor(1)'s congregation to pastor(2) for $190,000. So without the knowledge of pastor(1)'s leadership team or his congregation a joint service at pastor(2)'s church was announced.

They met in the joint service and pastor(1) stood up, announced his resignation and the sell of the congregation to the church they are now meeting in. Then he left $190,000 richer.

But that is not the end of the story. Pastor (1) leased the church building to another church and had the lease money sent to a P.O. Box and did not make payments on the loan to my friend's organization. When they went to inquire about nonpayment of the loan, pastor(1) is gone (in hiding) and the new church that is there had no idea about the previous financial agreement. So they too are now in a bind as the organization is going to have to ask them to leave(they can't afford the building payment) and the organization is stuck with a 3 million dollar facility that no one is paying for!

This makes me spitting mad! Mad a both pastors for treating God's people as a commodity to be sold and traded. I know we are sheep in God's Kingdom, but I also know there are unscrupulous pastors who are nothing but hirelings! This proves it!

This is when I thank God there will be a judgment forthcoming!

Which johns?

Not remembering which of John's epistles were the subject of the study the secretary posted the following:

This evening the Pastor will be leading a Bible study in one of the Johns.

Beware of the Affluenza Virus

Are you one of many who think money makes you happy? A recent news article and soon to be published book says that there is a new virus that is affecting many people worldwide. It's name is the Affluenza Virus. It is an epidemic of mindless consumerism that is sweeping the world with the compulsive pursuit of money and possessions making people richer but sadder.

That is the stark warning issued by best-selling British psychologist Oliver James after a "mind tour" of seven countries chronicling how depression envelopes the affluent.

"We have become addicted to having rather than being and confusing our needs with our wants," he told Reuters in an interview to mark publication on Thursday of "Affluenza."

Globe-trotting from New York to Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai via Copenhagen, Moscow and Auckland, he concluded after interviewing 240 people that "selfish capitalism" has run riot. Bigger houses, more cars, larger televisions, younger faces -- these goals are frenetically pursued by middle-class workaholics afflicted by "Affluenza."

"Studies in lots of different nations show that if you place high value on those things, you are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety, addictions and personality disorders," he said. James concluded, "People in English-speaking nations are twice as likely to be mentally ill as people living in mainland western European nations."

Always wanting bigger and better is an emotional cul de sac, argues the 53-year-old psychologist, broadcaster and author.

However, James is optimistic and believes the backlash has begun. "We are at a turning point. My argument dovetails with the ecological argument -- we cannot carry on consuming in this manner and feel confident our great grandchildren have any future. This inevitably leads us to question consumerism."

"People are sick to the back teeth of this stuff. They don't want any more selfish capitalism."

James is just confirming what the Bible has to say about this subject:
1Ti 6:6-10
A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God.
Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time.
Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. THE MESSAGE

It amazes that we still disregard this scripture. What amazes me more is that the 'Affluenza Virus' is rampant in our churches today just as in society. The church is full of it and consumerism is now the driving force in church competition.

God help us to return to a 'devout life that brings wealth.'

Drink Wilkins Coffee...or Else!

CAUTION- Graphic Violence- view at own risk!

Finished Bathroom Makeover!!

What did I do on 'Blue Monday?' Remember these pics from the post on 'What did I do Over Christmas?'

Click on Pics to enlarge--

Well, Debi and I completed the Master Bathroom Makeover. Over the weekend Debi sanded the walls, textured them (took her 5 hours-what a woman!), painted and then put a faux finish on them. I helped with the last two things. We ended up with a leather look on the walls which is 'manly' as this is primarily my bathroom with all my stuff. So all I have to do is some caulking, hanging a neat cabinet and mirror we bought and this project will be done! We started on Dec. 29th and have patiently worked at it. But now we can enjoy the finished work.

Also, I enjoy working with Debi- she is my heart's delight!

This shows a close up of the texture and faux we put on the walls.

This is a completed view.

Another major home project completed!

Blue Monday?

According to an article in the UK based "Daily Mail", today is Blue Monday -- the unhappiest day of the year. It says, "Unpaid Christmas bills, nasty weather, and failed New Year's resolutions combine to make January 22 the gloomiest in the calendar."

Phillip Hodson, a fellow of the British Association for Counselling, said: "The worst day has got to be a Monday - there is other evidence to show it is the worst day of the week.

"Our bodies work on a 25-hour clock so that - by the time we get to the weekend - we stay up later. That makes it difficult for us to go to sleep on Sunday and we wake up grumpy.

"It's also got to be around this time of year - we are less contented with our body image because we've been bingeing."

Maybe you're feeling it. Every now and then reality has a way of catching up with us, reminding us just how 'not-right' everything is. Bad news hits even harder, goals seem even more unreachable, progress seems even more elusive.

How's your day going? Rough? Good? So so? Remember these scriptures:

Ps 30:5
He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. from THE MESSAGE

2 Co 4:16-17
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. from THE MESSAGE

God turns blue days into bright days!

Political Correctness For Kids

Your bedroom isn't cluttered; it's "passage-restrictive."


Kids don't get in trouble anymore. They merely hit "social speed bumps."


You're not having a bad hair day; you're suffering from "rebellious follicle syndrome."

No one's tall anymore. They're "vertically enhanced."

You're not shy. You're "conversationally selective."

You don't talk a lot. You're just "abundantly verbal."

It's not called gossip anymore. It's "transmission of near-factual information."

The food at the school cafeteria isn't awful. It's "digestively challenged."

Your homework isn't missing; it's just having an "out-of-notebook experience."

You're not sleeping in class; you're "rationing consciousness."

You don't have smelly gym socks; you have "odor-retentive athletic footwear."

You weren't passing notes in class. You were "participating in the discreet exchange of penned meditations."

You're not being sent to the principal's office. You're "going on a mandatory field trip to the administrative building.

It's still tough to be a kid these days!

Lifted Up -- So Others Could Be Lifted Up

It was a busy day in heaven as folks waited in line at the pearly gates. Peter stood as gatekeeper checking each newcomer’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

But there was some confusion, as the numbers were not adding up. Heaven was a little overcrowded, and a bunch of folks were unaccounted for.

So some of the angels were sent on a mission to investigate things. And it was not long before two of them returned, “We found the problem,” they said.

“Jesus is out back, lifting people up over the gate.”

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."--John 3:14, 15

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (This he said, signifying what death he should die.)"--John 12:32, 33

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus came to save people and lift them out of their miserable conditions and bring them to the Father. The Father is not willing that any perish. I appreciate the depths that He went to to secure our deliverance from sin and our ability to have a fresh, dynamic, daily relationship with Him.

As Pastors we need to keep a fresh perspective that we too are here to help lift people out of their misery, shame, defeat, despair, disillusionment, depressions, etc., to an exciting new and abundant life in Christ.

I am one of the lifted up ones therefore I can help others!

Pastor David admits, "I Am Addicted..."

That's right, I am hopelessly addicted to....the TV show '24.'

One of the tensest, most intriguing television shows airing today, the critically acclaimed 24 has captured my attention and that of millions of viewers. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 has become one of FOX's leading TV shows. It centers around its main protagonist, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), as well as a plethora of supporting characters. Bauer, a skilled government agent, works in the Counter Terrorist Unit, located in Los Angeles. Over the course of five thrilling seasons, Jack Bauer has evaded terrorists, nuclear weapons, assassins, and many other sinister figures, all with equally sinister goals in mind. 24 is highly unique in the fact that each season takes place over 24 hours in real time, with each episode spanning one hour of the day.

And now 'Jack is back' with the 6th season thrilling 4 hour opener spreading over last night and tonight. However, because of a friend who loaned me the pre-release DVD of the 4 episodes plus first 10 minutes of the 5th installment, we were able to watch it all last night at a friend's home on a big screen TV.

WOW, how do these writers keep coming up with these almost true to life scenarios? They do awesome writing, there is superb acting and great film work!

I am addicted to it... I admit it... I don't want help though until the season is over!

Fatherly Chat

A young woman brings home her fiance to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man.

The father invites the fiancee to his study for a chat. "So what are your plans?" the father asks the young man.

"I am a Bible college student." he replies.

"A Bible college student. Hmmm," the father says. "admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she's accustomed to?"

"I will study," the young man replies, "and God will provide for us."

"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?" asks the father.

"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replies, "God will provide for us."

"And children?" asks the father. "How will you support children?"

"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replies the fiance. The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the young idealist insists that God will provide.

Later, the mother asks, "How did it go, Honey?"

The father answers, "He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I'm God."

Blessed are those who mourn...

Matt 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. NIV

I am starting a series on Jesus teaching what we call the Beatitudes. The Bible says that we are to have the same attitude as Jesus! I pray that these will be life and mind changing messages.

The pic above of the President crying reminds me of why I like him. He is real and genuine, not like his detractors in Washington. They have to feign mourning, it is not genuine!

But a President who crys for the dead, wounded, sins of a nation, etc., is someone I can follow!

And Pastor friends, if you haven't cried recently, you need to get in touch with your God given emotions. I would rather follow a crying preacher that a 'strutting your stuff' preacher. Where has all the humility gone in the pulpit?

People are crying all around us! Jesus is touched by that and we should be also.

Matt 5:4
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you." from THE MESSAGE

Jesus wept, President Bush wept.... can that be said of you?

Lock Cup

The Lock Cup is an ingenious way to keep pesky cup-stealing coworkers at bay. Removing a small key from the side of the cup leaves a gaping hole and renders it useless until the key is returned.



I say, leave the cup's hole facing your cubicle wall and let the little thief figure it out after he's started pouring his coffee.

Somebody's listening!

My prayer over the tithes and offerings each Sunday is as follows:

Lord, bless our great city of Arlington with industry and businesses. We have people who want to work and live here. As they are faithful to You in their jobs, please give them raises, bonuses and increases. Bless those in our church with an entrepreneur spirit to start businesses and bless our business owners and prosper them. Give us clever and witty inventions that we too might make wealth. Now we are not greedy, nor covetous, and we do not want to consume it upon ourselves, but having our own needs met we are able to give to others and into the Kingdom of God. Amen.

That is how I pray each and every Sunday. I received an email last night from a Dad that attends the church:

I was praying with my children tonight, and Lyric, who's 10, prayed "Lord give daddy more work so we can get more money, not to consume it upon ourselves, but to give it to other people after our expenses. Amen."

lol! At least somebody's listening!

"Dream Team" Staff Retreat

We had our annual Staff Retreat this past weekend. We arrived at the Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose, TX, around 5PM, settled in, ate, and then began our meetings at 6PM. We worshipped, prayed, talked, discussed, did inventories, and discussed some more. Around 10PM we started praying for each other with words of encouragement, prophetic words, and words of affirmation. That lasted until about 12am. Then, we started playing a few games. Late Night!

We were back after it after our breakfast. We discussed 2006; what were our strengths (did right), what were our weaknesses (did wrong), and what we will and won't do again this year. We made plans for 2007, discussed our goals, and then prayed some more. We finished our time with a great meal at noon at Hammonds BBQ in Glen Rose. Great BBQ and desserts, i.e. the cobblers with Blue Bell ice cream and Peanut Butter Cream Pie, all homemade!

I have a great staff and they truly are the 'Dream Team.' I love them and thank them for being here at the Vine!

Some funny cartoons--

Amazing thing is I relate to all of these!!!! Yikes......

What did you do over Christmas?

I always get 1001 questions about what I did over Christmas break. We shut down the office for the week after Christmas. Some of the staff travel to be with family. We stayed here and I did what is now a tradition here at the Vine and that is serve communion to and pray over each family on Christmas eve. Been doing that for 16 years!

Ryan and Charity came here. So we had a great time of visiting, eating, and shopping. I am blessed with a great wife and tremendous kids!

After Ryan and Charity left I began a project that we needed to do and that was change out our master bathroom shower. These are some work in progress pics and some near completion pics.

So all I need to do is finish out the sheet rock and it will be completed. I will probably do that Monday on my day off.

We used it for the first time today- NO leaks!

Well, have to go get ready for our Staff Retreat this weekend. The staff at the Vine are a "Dream Team." I love them....

"Et tu, Brute?"

Did you stay up until midnight to welcome the New Year? Or did you stay up to make sure the old year leaves! None of us can afford to let our past poison our present or sabotage our future. We have to overcome and let go of things!

“One should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.” Steven Deitz

Probably one of the most difficult and gut wrenching trial and test that a Pastor (or anyone for that matter) might experience in life is the betrayal by someone close to you. It can be at the hands of family members, husband or wife, church members, friends, business associates, etc. I have had a few relationships that have ended in betrayal. I tend to be very loyal, forgiving, and ‘giving the benefit of the doubt’ in my relationships with people. I don’t live life as a rule with the idea ‘people are going to disappoint you.’ Yet it does happen and nothing is more sinister than betrayal.

Ps 55:12-14
It is not an enemy who taunts me — I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me — I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you — my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. NLT

This scripture is one of betrayal. The Bible gives us repeated instances of it. The religious community and one of His closest friends betrayed Jesus. Those who were closest to David betrayed him. Joseph's own family betrayed him. Betrayal is a fact of life!

Os Hillman calls loving those that betray you ‘graduate level Christianity.’ A Godly response to betrayal goes against everything in us. We want to protect, retaliate, and retain unforgiveness and bitterness. Therein lies Satan’s tool against us walking free of betrayal. We have to seek and appropriate God’s grace for these difficult situations. Loving our enemies cannot be accomplished by mustering it up. We need to die to ourselves so that God’s nature of true forgiveness and love can flow to us and through us to those that have betrayed us.

If you have experienced betrayal, may God give you the victory over it in 2007!

The Emotional Deficit of a Pastor - pt 4

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!! May God bless you and keep you!

Mark 5:30 At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" from THE MESSAGE

Most Pastors live off the spiritual energy of ministry and preaching the Word Of God. When one stands to preach there is a life flow from God to the Pastor that gives a spiritual energy high. It is the most vital energy that any of us have – what we live off of. It gives confidence and courage to do everything else that may come our way. However, we can quickly deplete that spiritual energy and hit the proverbial wall. Jesus knew when someone touched Him and energy left him. There are people constantly ‘touching’ the pastor and with each touch energy is drained!

When a Pastor’s emotional deficit is extremely low, you just can’t stop and fill it quickly. Just as it took time to diminish and get to where it is, it will take time to replenish it. Usually more time than it took to drain it.

What are some steps to replenishing our emotional deficit?
1. Jesus showed us that in order to meet the demands of ministry- one had to get away and alone with God on a continual basis. Time with God is like attaching jumper cables to a depleted battery and giving it a new boost of energy.

2. One needs to relax and read non Christian Books to refresh the mind and soul. Read not for ‘sermon illustrations’ but for the effect that it will have on your psyche!

3. A Pastor needs to spend time in the company of his cheerleaders. Those are people, your wife and others, who are there to cheer you on and encourage you. They are there to ‘breathe a fresh breath’ on you! Play games with them, eat out with them, go to movies, etc. These are people who can accept you as a real person with legitimate needs and not ‘always as a pastor’ but a friend!

4. Personal downtime- this means take a day off. And as your mother used to say, “Get out of the house and do something, you’re driving me crazy!” We need to do the same or our home will become a ‘nut house.’

5. Take travel vacations. By travel, I mean vacations taken at another location other than your city or even state. I get replenish the best by lying on a beach beside an ocean absorbing those life threatening sun rays! My leaders and church recognize that I am much better after a travel vacation!

6. And as Bill Hybels said: I'm convinced God wants us to live so as to finish the race we've started. That's the challenge of every Christian leader. And monitoring all three gauges—spiritual, physical, and emotional—plays an important part in our longevity.

So dear friends, keep a constant watch on your emotional gauge now that you realize its importance to your overall well being and the work of the ministry.